Body support

ABSTRACT

A chair-like structure having cushion portions formed, dimensioned and spaced to receive and support the buttocks, thighs, lower limbs and lower back area of a person sitting cross-legged on the structure as in a meditating position.

United States Patent Rail June 17, 1975 [54] BODY SUPPORT 3,639,9272/1972 Munch 5/91 3,711,152 1/1973 Sirpak at al 297/423 X [76] inventor:Parry 1430 Wallace 3,713,696 1/1973 Dudley 297/458 x Pmole, Callf. 945643,717,378 2/1973 Jackson 297/458 X [22] Filed: Jan. 16, 1974 PrimaryE.\'un1mer-Roy D. Frazler PP 433,748 Assistant Examiner-William E.Lyddane Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Warren, Rubin 8L 52 US. (:1 297/423;5/345 R; 297/458 Chwkermg [51] Int. Cl. A47c 7/50 [58] Field of Search297/423, 452, 454, 455, [57] ABSTRACT 297/457, 458, 459, 460, 427; 5/91,354 R A chair-like structure having cushion portions formed, dimensionedand spaced to receive and support the [56] References Cited buttocks,thighs, lower limbs and lower back area of a UNITED STATES PATENTSperson sitting cross-legged on the structure as in a 3,038,175 6/1962Faget et a1. 5/345 R medltatmg Posmon' 3,339,544 9/1967 Kravitz 5/91 X 7Claims, 8 Drawing Figures BODY SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of Invention The invention relates to chairs, seats and the likefor supporting a person in seated position.

2. Description of Prior Art Chairs commonly support the buttocks, thighsand back of the user but leave the lower limbs to depend from the chairseat. An alternate and more comfortable position for some is to sit onthe floor in a cross-legged position as sometimes referred to as aone-half or full lotus position. Many people with poor circulation arerequired for medical reasons to elevate their legs while in a seatedposition and, in all instances, raising of the lower limbs reduces thework load on the hert. The problem is that many people, particularlyadults who need the beneficial assist, find it difficult to sit in across-legged position where only the buttocks and feet are supportedleaving the full limbs (thighs and crura) remain unsupported.

The ideal condition for a person at rest in a seated position is maximumphysical relaxation of the body accompanied by minimum resistance toblood flow. This condition can be best obtained by the elimination ofpressure points or areas of high physical stress.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toprovide a body support of the character described which will afford afull cushioned support of the body while seated in a cross-leggedposition with the feet and lower limbs positioned at substantially theelevation of the buttocks, and which will enable almost all personsincluding adults to assume and receive the benefits of this position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a body support ofthe character above which will enable a person to sit most comfortablyfor long durations of time without tiring and without requiring theotherwise frequent periodic changing of position to shift weightedstress points of the body.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a body supportof the character described which will maximize the area of supportreducing to a minimum stress areas and obtaining a concomitantmaximizing of the natural flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich of the foregoing will be set forth in the following description ofthe preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of this specification. It is to beunderstood, however, that variations in the showing made by the saiddrawings and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bodysupport constructed in accordance with the present invention and with aperson seated therein in a cross-legged position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the body support with the person seatedtherein assuming an alternate position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the body support of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the body support without the covering.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the body support taken substantiallyon the plane of line 5-5 of FIG. 4 with portions of the back restdeleted.

FIG. 6 is a similar cross-sectional view taken substantially on theplane of line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a similar cross-sectional view of the support takensubstantially on the plane of line 77 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a similar cross-sectional view on substantially on the planeof line 88 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The body support of the presentinvention comprises briefly a first cushion portion 11 having a topsurface 10 formed and dimensioned to receive and support the buttocks ofa person when seated thereon; a pair of second laterally spaced cushionportions 12 and 13 contiguous to portion 1 l and extending in a normallyforward direction therefrom and having top supporting surfaces 16 and 17substantially flush with surface 10 and being dimensioned and positionedto support the users thighs; the lateral spacing of portions 12 and 13and their forward extension from portion 11 defining a cavity 18 for theusers feet when the user is sitting crosslegged on the support asillustrated in FIG. 1.

As may be best seen from FIG. 3, the laterally spaced cushion portions12 and 13 diverge forwardly from the rear cushion portion 11thus'conforming to the divergent extension of the thighs from thebuttocks of a person seated cross-legged on the structure. Also the topsurfaces 16 and 17 flare upwardly to the outsides of the cushions, ascan be best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, so as to conform to the elevation ofthe outside of the thighs of the seated'person. Finally, the lateralcushions 12 and 13 are preferably made of a length which will underlieand support the users knees and calves when the users legs are forwardlyextended, as seen in FIG. 2. As a feature of the present construction,facilitating such alternate seated position, the top surfaces 16 and 17are formed with breaks 21 and 22, see FIG. 3, positioned for underlyingthe users knees with the portions 23 and 24 of the top surfaces forwardof breaks 21 and 22 sloping downwardly to underlie and support thecalves of the legs of the user as seen in FIG. 2.

As an important feature of the present invention, the third cushion 26is positioned forwardly'of rear cushion 11 and medially between cushionsl2 and 13 and functions to divide cavity 18 into a pair of recesses 27and 28 for receiving the users feet; and importantly the top surface ofcushion 26 is at an elevation receiving and supporting each leg cruswhen the user is seated in cross-legged position with his feetpositioned in recesses 27 and 28. To accomplish this support, the topsurface of cushion 26 is substantially flush with top surface 10 ofcushion 11.

Preferably cushion 26 is divided into a pair of'fore and aft spacedsections 31 and 32 individually compressible for individual leg crussupport. This individual support holds the lower limbs from rolling orgravitating toward each other and enables a desired maintenance of atleast some spacing between the limbs. Preferably aft section 32 islocated substantially between the thigh supporting areas of cushions 12and 13 and section 31 is spaced forwardly therefrom, generally forwardlyof breaks 21 and 22. The full forward extension of cushion 26 is usefulin accommodating persons of various leg lengths. A person may draw hisankle portions back close to the body or leave them further out as hemay find most comfortable. Also the length of the central cushionenables freedom of movement in shifting the position of the lower limbsduring long periods of repose on the structure. Relative compression ofthe several cushion portions will result in a support of the lowermostportion of the body at about the level of the buttocks which has beenfound to be most comfortable. The forward divergent tapering of the sidecushions provides a forward widening of the feet receiving recesses 27and 28 and the bottoms of the feet will assume a position generallyparallel to the side cushions.

As another and important feature of the present invention, a back restcushion 36 is positioned in elevated relation to cushion l1 and at therear thereof for engaging and supporting the users back. Preferably,this cushion is formed with a normally forwardly disposed surface 37curved and positioned to meet with and support the users back in thelumbar region. Also, preferably, cushion 36 is carried on a supportingframe 38 for vertical adjustment for optimal support of the users back.In this connection, the top surface of rear cushion 11 is provided withan upward flare extending to the rear of the cushion soas to assist inthe proper rotation of the pelvis and correct erect positioning of thespine. The combination of this cushion shape and the back rest completesthe body support with the whole body in balance and most comfortablysupported for long duration seating.

The structure is preferably constructed as seen in FIGS. 5 8 on a baseplate 41 which also furnishes the support for a pair of rear verticalguides 42 which telescopically receive the lower ends of frame 38enabling the ready demounting of the back rest for portability, shippingand storage. The back rest cushion 36 may be adjustably attached toframe 38, to permit vertical adjustment of cushion 36, by manuallyoperated clamps 43. A base cushion 33 is here mounted on plate 41 andhas a trapizoidal opening in the front thereof filled with a softercushion 34 which forms the bottoms of recesses 27 and 28. Cushionportions 11, 12, 13, 31 and 32 are mounted on the top side of cushions33 and 34. All of the cushions are here made of foam plastic. Foams ofdifferent indent deflection are required. The softer foams do notsupport adequately yet are desired at points of body contact.Accordingly, sections of someshat denser foam are used in the basecushion and are built into the several suchion portions as for examplesee insert sections 46 and 47 in the laterally spaced cushions l2 and 13and insert section 48 in the central cushions 31 and 32. Thesectionalized structureis enclosed in an appropriate covering as thedevice is seen in FIGS. 1 3. The body support may be made in varioussizes to accommodate various sized people; however as one of thefeatures of the structure, one model will accommodate a significantrange of body sizes.

The body support of the present invention may, in the form hereindepicted, be mounted directly on the floor with the latter furnishingthe flat surface support for the base cushions of the structure.Alternatively, the body support may be elevated on legs or other basesupporting structure as in a conventional chair or the like.

What is claimed is: l. A body support comprising: I a first cushionportion having a top surface formed and dimensioned to receive andsupport the buttocks of a person when seated thereon;

a pair of laterally spaced second cushion portions contiguous to saidfirst portion and extending in a normally forward direction therefromand having top supporting surfaces substantially flush with said firstportion surface and being dimensioned and positioned to support theusers thighs;

said portions defining a cavity for the users feet when the user issitting cross-legged on said support;

a third cushion portion positioned forwardly of said first portion andmedially between said second portions and dividing said cavity into apair of recesses for receiving the users feet when the user is seatedcross-legged on said support; and

the top surface of said third portion having an elevation receiving andsupporting each leg crus when the user is seated in cross-leggedposition with the users feet positioned in said recesses.

2. A support as defined in claim 1,

said top surface of said third portion being substantially flush withsaid top surface of said first portion.

V 3. A support as defined inclaim 2,

said third cushion portion'comprising a pair of foreand aft spacedsections individually compressible for individual leg crus support.

' 4. A support as defined in claim 3,

said aft section being substantially between the thigh supporting areasof said second portions, and

said fore section being spaced forwardly of said areas.

5. A support as defined in claim 1, and

a fourth cushion portion positioned in elevated relation to said firstportion and at the rear thereof and engaging and supporting the usersback.

6. A support as defined in claim 5,

said third cushion portion comprising a pair of fore and aft spacedsections individually compressible for individual leg crus support; and

said fourth cushion portion having a normally forwardly disposed surfacecurved and positioned to mate with and support the users back in thelumbar region.

7. A support as defined in claim 1, and

base cushions having top surfaces defining the bottoms of said recessesfor receipt and support of the user Ts feet.

1. A body support comprising: a first cushion portion having a topsurface formed and dimensioned to receive and support the buttocks of aperson when seated thereon; a pair of laterally spaced second cushionportions contiguous to said first portion and extending in a normallyforward direction therefrom and having top supporting surfacessubstantially flush with said first portion surface and beingdimensioned and positioned to support the user''s thighs; said portionsdefining a cavity for the user''s feet when the user is sittingcross-legged on said support; a third cushion portion positionedforwardly of said first portion and medially between said secondportions and dividing said cavity into a pair of recesses for receivingthe user''s feet when the user is seated cross-legged on said support;and the top surface of said third portion having an elevation receivingand supporting each leg crus when the user is seated in cross-leggedposition with the user''s feet positioned in said recesses.
 2. A supportas defined in claim 1, said top surface of said third portion beingsubstantially flush With said top surface of said first portion.
 3. Asupport as defined in claim 2, said third cushion portion comprising apair of fore and aft spaced sections individually compressible forindividual leg crus support.
 4. A support as defined in claim 3, saidaft section being substantially between the thigh supporting areas ofsaid second portions, and said fore section being spaced forwardly ofsaid areas.
 5. A support as defined in claim 1, and a fourth cushionportion positioned in elevated relation to said first portion and at therear thereof and engaging and supporting the user''s back.
 6. A supportas defined in claim 5, said third cushion portion comprising a pair offore and aft spaced sections individually compressible for individualleg crus support; and said fourth cushion portion having a normallyforwardly disposed surface curved and positioned to mate with andsupport the user''s back in the lumbar region.
 7. A support as definedin claim 1, and base cushions having top surfaces defining the bottomsof said recesses for receipt and support of the user''s feet.